Humongous Insurance Euthanasia Techniques Presented by Wendy Blount, D.V.M. Injection Cephalic Vein 9:23 2 CONFIDENTIAL Injection Other Veins 2:13 3 CONFIDENTIAL Intraperitoneal Injection 7:03 4 CONFIDENTIAL Intracardiac Injection 3:36 5 CONFIDENTIAL Verification of Death 5:22 6 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Wildlife • Consult with game warden before euthanizing protected species • Assume all rabies vector species to be infected with rabies – Skunk – Bat – Raccoon – Fox, coyote • Send head for rabies examination if any people or domestic animals exposed 7 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Wildlife • Birds – Intracoelemic injection just below the breast bone – 0.3cc/lb body weight; 3 cc/10 lb body weight • Small Mammals – Rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, etc. – Anesthetize, then IP or IC injection – IP without sedation if can be safely restrained 8 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Wildlife • Reptiles – Must be sedated prior to euthanasia • Especially turtles and tortoises (why?) – Requires supervision of a veterinarian – Know how to identify poisonous snakes – 2-3cc pentobarbital/10 lbs – Reptiles can feign death, and heart rate can fall to a few per minute and still be alive – Death can take a day or two 9 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Livestock • Gunshot to the head commonly used – May need to follow with shot to the heart • If euthanized with pentobarb, the animal can not be used for food – Wildlife can be poisoned • Cattle in a chute or sedated • Horse euthanasia only by the experienced – 120cc solution attached to an IV line – Horse can rear after injected – Must be clear of the horse when falling 10 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Livestock • Cattle, sheep and goats – Inject jugular vein • Pigs – Sedate then IC injection – Thick fat layer makes IV injection very difficult, unless the ear vein is used – The squealing is unbearable – Sometimes can hit the ear vein with sedation – Experienced pig handlers can hit the jugular vein, but it takes practice. 11 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Livestock • AAEP Euthanasia Guidelines – IV pentobarbital is preferred – Gunshot to the brain is acceptable – Captive bolt is acceptable – IV potassium chloride after sedation is acceptable – Alternatives may be necessary under special circumstances 12 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Livestock • AVMA – captive bolt OK for cattle, horses, swine • AABP – captive bolt OK for cattle – Followed by exsanguination or pithing • Non-penetrating captive bolt guns should not be used 13 CONFIDENTIAL Euthanasia of Aquatic Animals • Agents approved by the FDA as tranquilizers and anesthetics for finfish have been used extralabel as euthanasia agents for aquatic animals. – MS 222 – Tricaine methane sulfonate (TSM) – Finquel®, Tricaine-S® • Benzocaine hyodrochloride gel can be applied to the belly of the fish • Immersion in low concentration ethanol can also be used 14 CONFIDENTIAL Injection Tips • Quickly check needle for barbs to prevent painful injection – Cheap needles will become dull or barbed with a single pass through the drug bottle – Change the needle for comfort (2 needles per animal, or leave 18g needle in vial) • If you must recap a needle, use the one handed technique (demo) • Keep a syringe of 8-10 cc of pentobarbital ready, in case re- injection is needed – If not needed by the end of the day, return to the drug supply15 bottle in the safe CONFIDENTIAL IV Injection • Unconsciousness within less than a minute • Things that can delay onset of death – Mental state – excitement • sedate – Poor circulation • Dehydration • Shock • Heart failure • After a large meal (xylazine can cause vomiting) • Inherent drug tolerance 16 CONFIDENTIAL.